Rail joint



Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,739

A. SEKELY ET AL RAIL JOINT Filed March 17, 1927 Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

ANDREW 'SE KELY AND ALEXANDER LADANYI, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL JOINT.

Application filed March 17, 1927. Serial No. 176,018.

This invention relates to a connecting deprovide an article of this character which will securely hold the rails together at the 5 joints without the necessity of perforations,

or the use of bolts and nuts as commonly applied.

On rail-roads as they are now constructed,

the vibration of passing trains causes a grad l ual loosening of the binding bolts and necessitates the employment of track walkers who make frequent inspections and tighten up the nuts on these bolts. I

Another feature of this article is the provision to allow for rail expansion, there being no binding elements to interfere with the slight elongation of the rails when subjected to long periods of excessive heat such as occur in certain parts of this country during the summer season. This expansion has been known to warp the. tracks and to cause the derailmentof trains and serious resultant damage to both passengers and cars.

The device also prevents the hammering caused by one rail being slightly higher than the adjacent rail end. In this invention the rails rest at their opposed ends on a single plate, against which they are securely held.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be fully described in the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the device with end portions of adjacent rails secured therein.

Fig.2 shows an enlarged vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary side view of the rear end of the device disclosing a locking element.

Fig. 4 shows another form of the invention employing an underset extension of the sliding element.

Fig. 5 shows, still further enlarged, a rear end view of the base element with a set screw engaging a stop member.

Fig. 6 shows a side view of the parts illus trated in Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, rails 10 and 11 are shown joined together by the device claimed, and which may be best seen in Figure 2. Referring to this figure, a receiving element 12 has a side plate 13, a bevel portion 14, a base plate 15, and an cured to,

A slide plate 18 has a beveled member 19 so shaped as to conform to the contour of the rail.

In use, the rail ends are placed with the base flanges inserted under the bevel portion 14 and resting on the base plate 15, the slide plate 18 is then inserted at one end of the base element and forced forward along the side of the rails for the full length of the base element. It fits tightly within the contours of the rail ends and forces them securelyv against the opposed side of the .device. This slide plate is secured in position at the ends by means of stop lugs as shown at 20 in Figure 3 and at 21 in Figure 1, these being of similar construction, as will now be described in connection with Figure 3 of'the drawings. The stop lug 20 is seor a part of the sprin 22 which is secured to the base of the sli e plate as shown at 23. A recess 24 is milled in the said base to permit of the rise and fall of the said lug. hen sliding the plate into position, the lug is raised within the recess.

Grooves 25, 26 etc. are provided in the base element as shown in Figure 1 to receive the spikes as indicated at 32 and 33 with which it is secured to the railroad ties.

Set screws as that shown in Figures 5 and 6 at 27 may be used to afford a more positive hooking means for the stop lugs, and when so used, may be further applied to force the slide element more securely against the overhanging strip, as well as the rail members. These screws are threaded through the slide plate base as seen at 28, having clearance in the overhanging strip as indicated by the dotted lines 29 and 30.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figure 4, in which. an underset extension of the slide plate as seen at 31 rests underneath the base flanges of the rails. This provides an additional safeguard against the loosening, or overturning of the sliding element.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is as follows:

1. In an article of the class described, a receiving element comprising a base portion and a fixed side member and an overlapping wall, and a slidable side plate having a beveled member adapted to rest beneath the overhanging strip 16 which covers the groove vice for railroad tracks, and its object is to '17 said overlapping wall, means to secure the said side platein position relative to the said receiving element comprising a lug attached to said side plate 'engageable with the edge of said base portion and a set screw threaded through said overlapped wall and pressed position. 7

2. In an article of the class described, a recelving element adapted to be secured to a suitable supporting structure beneath the rails of a railroad, the said receiving element having a horizontal base plate, a wall.

extending upward therefrom and shaped to receive the opposed ends of adjoining rail members, an inwardly disposed overlapping strip projecting upward from the said base plate on the side opposite to the aforesaid wall, a slide plate shaped to conform to the contours of the said rail members and adapted to be inserted between the said rails and the said overlapping strip and with a part of its base under the said strip, locking mechanism comprising a spring mounted 011 said side plate, and a stop lug secured to said spring, adapted to engage the edge of said horizontal base plate when said side plate is placed in a predetermined position.

3. In an base element having a horizontallower plate joining railroad rails, adapted to have a partinserted through i said side plate for retaining said lug in de-' article of the class described, a

and an upward extending wall and an inwardly disposed overlapping portion and adapted to receive the'opposed ends of adand a slidable side plate under the main body said overlapping portion and its fitted against the sides of the said rails and spring controlled stop lugs secured within recesses in the said slidable plate, and set screws threaded through the said plate and adapted to force down the said lugs and to exert an upward pressure .on the said slidable plate.

i. In an article otthe class described, a receiving element comprising a base portion and a fixed side member and an overlapping wall, a slidable side plate comprising a beveled portion adapted to engage beneath said overlapping wall, and a catch comprising a spring attached to said side member and lug on said spring adapted to be urged downwardly by said spring and to abut against the edge of the base portion of said receiving element when said side member is moved to a predetermined posi tion.

In testimony whereof we have ailixed our signatures.

ANDREW SEKELY. ALEXANDER LADANYI. 

